Pakistan’s annual consumer price inflation (CPI) rate rose to 9.0 % in September, the statistics bureau said on Friday, up from 8.4% in the previous month.

Prime Minister Imran Khan government is coming under increasing criticism for rising essential goods prices.

An increase in prices of vegetables, fruits, flour, sugar, and meat caused the latest hike in inflation, the statistics bureau said. The price rises have been hitting the country’s poor, who are also struggling with the economic fallout from the Covid pandemic.